Research & Planning A2

After learning in class about the conventions and styles of music videos/trailers/documentaries/short films you need to create 3 mind maps (major task+minor tasks x2) with any general ideas you have and want to include in your work – mention conventions, codes, devices, software and other digital technology elements you will need to use and learn.

MAJOR TASK (scroll down for Minor task)

Research Posts:

A detailed look (textual analysis and representation comments) at 2 music videos/trailers/documentaries/short films, from music/film genres similar to the one you want to create.

A detailed look at 1 music video/trailer/documentary/short film, from music/film genres different to the one you want to create, useful for presenting what kind of techniques will not be used in your own work. In this way you can broaden your scope of analysis and understanding of what you really want to do.

Follow this structure:

What are the conventions found in these music videos/trailers/documentaries/short films?

What do the elements in the music videos/trailers/documentaries/short films represent? (Denotation and Connotation)

Who is the audience for these music videos/trailers/documentaries/short films? (be specific)

What genre is the music video/trailer/documentary/short film in? How is this shown?

What uses and gratifications can the audience acquire from watching them?

What features of the music video/trailer/documentary/short film will you use/not use in your own?

2) Audience Questionnaire andAnalysis of questionnaire results (post the questionnaire you create, then get answers and post the results, include bar graphs/pie charts) – For Music Video you need to research the audience of the song you chose.

How will these results affect how you plan your trailers/documentary/short film ?

What genres of music videos/trailers/documentaries/short films do they like?

Where do they usually watch music videos/trailers/documentaries/short films ? (cinema, online: which websites, etc.)

Present this info using the Piktochart online tool.

4) Moodboard (After deciding on the genre/style you want to approach in your work and analysing your target audience)

Create a moodboard using gomoodboard.com in which you present the visual style you want to create in your coursework.

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Planning Posts

1) Plot & Story/Song analysis

Present the plot and story of the entire film(for which you create the trailers)/documentary/short film

Analyse your idea: is it S.M.A.R.T? (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time bound)

For Music Video: first research the song and the artist/band, how and why that song was produced. Then, go on describing which will be the plot in your work if you approach a more narrative music video. For conceptual music videos you can just present the ideas you want to include.

2) Script & Storyboard Development

Write the script and create the storyboard for your music video/trailers/documentary/short film. For Music Video: Go on genius.com, copy the lyrics, write down the timing of each part of the song: intro, verse, chorus, bridge, outro, etc. to guide your script.

Why are the script and storyboard appropriate for your genre & audience?

Prepare a presentation with information from all the above posts. You will have to present your music video/trailers/documentary/short film to a “producer” and make him/her wish to fund your music video/trailers/documentary/short film. For this you will also have to add:

Distribution

Festivals

Competitions

Innovative marketing ideas

10) Calendar/Timeline/Call Sheets

When tasks will start and finish (including film-shoots, deadlines etc…)

MINOR TASKS

Research Post

1) Analyse 2 different digipaks/posters/promotion postcards & websites for your chosen task (They should be linked to the other media texts you analysed for the main task. If there aren’t any, choose some in the same genre like the main task).

What are the conventions found in each digipak/poster/promotion postcard & website?

What do the elements in the digipak/poster/promotion postcard & website represent? (Denotation and Connotation)

Who is the audience for this digipak/poster/promotion postcard & website? (be specific)

What genre does the digipak/poster/promotion postcard & website convey? How is this shown?

What features of the digipaks/posters/promotion postcards & websites analysed will you use/not use in your own production?

Planning Posts

1) Contact sheet of photo-shoot images

After shooting your music video/trailers/documentary/short film you will have to take also some more suited photos for the digipak/poster/promotion postcard. You should plan ahead and take these on the same day/s of shooting the main task as the actors, props and setting are ready. If you want something more different, you may also organise another photo-shoot just for the minor tasks.

Which images are appropriate for your minor tasks?

Which will you use, and where?

What do you like/dislike about specific images?

2) Fonts

3-5 Font examples

Pros and cons of each font

Why is this appropriate for your genre/audience?

3) Graphic elements & Texts

barcodes

logos

special graphic features – symbols, frames, illustrations, etc.

all photos to be posted on website

prepare all texts needed in your minor tasks

4) Drafts: create 3 drafts for your minor task (for the website, you will just have to draw out ideas regarding colors and content, you can make one plan, drawn by hand)

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About this blog

This is the blog for the A Level Media Studies course offered by Cambridge International Examinations at Transylvania College. More info on the course here: Media Studies CIE

This blog is managed by the teacher who posts relevant research topics and resources for students. You are free to take anything you want and use the ideas shared here.

Please visit also the students’ blogs, to see what kind of work they have to do for Media Studies at A Level.

Transylvania College is the ony Cambridge accredited school in Romania offering a complete educational track, from nursery through high school. Our school has been chosen by families from around the world, we have students from 26 countries.